The association Next generation, which gives training on youth civic participation, today defended that young people need space in decision-making places to feel heard. The president of the association, Fabiana Fernandes, highlighted the importance of youth representation in political bodies and suggested forms of civic participation, such as demonstrations, petitions and leadership training.
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26/10/2026
by
Lusa
Next generation Association
A association Next generation, which gives training on civic participation youth today defended that for young people to feel heard it is necessary to give them “space in decision-making places”.
At a time when thousands of young people have participated in protests about the right to housing, especially in Lisbon and Porto, the president of the association, Fabiana Fernandes, told Lusa that young people must be heard through demonstrations, but also by participating in bodies for which they can be elected as for the municipal assemblies or Assembly of the Republic.
“It is [need] that there is representativeness of young people in the parliamentary groups, it is [need] that there is representativeness of young people in the municipal assemblies and in the business executives,” Fabiana Fernandes appealed.
Still on the demonstrations of the last two weeks, the responsible said that the protests served to expose the position of young people in relation to a “question that is critical” for the future.
“ Young people want solutions that take account of their opinions and also take account of their experiences,” said the president of the association, indicating that protests should always be peaceful.
About the contributions that young people can make in politics, Fabiana Fernandes gave as an example the proposed law of the State Budget for 2027 for which they can submit proposals in the area of education.
“ It is important that young people realize that they can influence, that they can have a say and that they can themselves build solutions for the future that we want to have and for the future that we want to have,” said the head of the non-profit association.
Fabiana Fernandes gave more examples of how young people can have civic participation, mentioned the signature of petitions and the creation of associations.
The association has today opened applications for a civic and political leadership training programme for young people aged 16-30.
Applications run until November 9th at the association website and the program combines weekly online sessions with four in-person weekends in different regions of the country.
Between February and May 2027, 25 young people will learn how the various state institutions work and how they can participate more actively in society. The program has formed 100 young people since 2022.